Claire Davis, Teen Wounded in Colorado School Shooting, Has Died

A suburban Denver high school student who was shot in the head by a classmate died Saturday afternoon, hospital officials said in a statement.

Claire Davis, 17, was in critical condition after being shot at point-blank range at Arapahoe High School on Dec. 13.

Friends and well-wishers had posted prayers online and raised money to help pay for her medical care.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share that at 4:29 p.m. this afternoon, Claire Davis passed away, with her family at her side,” the statement from Littleton Adventist Hospital.

“Despite the best efforts of our physicians and nursing staff, and Claire’s fighting spirit, her injuries were too severe and the most advanced medical treatments could not prevent this tragic loss of life.

Karl Pierson, 18, shot Davis, who just happened to be sitting nearby with a friend as Pierson, armed with a shotgun, ammunition strapped to his body, Molotov cocktails and a machete, entered the school and headed toward the library.

Davis appeared to be a random target, Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson has said.

Pierson likely intended to track down a librarian who had disciplined him, but Robinson said Pierson’s arsenal suggested Pierson intended to hurt many others at the school just 8 miles from Columbine High School.

Pierson set off one of the incendiary devices and fired five shots before killing himself just one minute and 20 seconds after entering the building.

He knew a sheriff’s deputy assigned to the school was closing in, Robinson said at a news conference.

Students held vigils for Davis after the shooting. Typical was a story told by classmate Maggie Hurlbut.

“One time I remember I was upset in the hallway, and she came up to me and she just – it was like, ‘Hey Maggie, I know we don’t know each other well but are you doing OK?’ And I told her yeah, and she was like, ‘Anything you need, I’m here for you,’ ” Hurlbut said.

“Again, that’s who she is, and she just wants to take care of others, and that was really just a good representation of her character and who she was.”